Explore Colima
The Mexican state of Colima is located on the west coast and touches the Pacific Ocean with its ~150km of coastline. Its largest city is Manzanillo, a diving hotspot, and the islands of the Revillagigedo Archipelago, which are located approximately 700km offshore and are also known for spectacular diving, are under the jurisdiction of Colima as well.
Diving in Manzanillo can accommodate all experience levels. Both sheltered and exposed areas of Manzanillo Bay keep dives interesting for beginners and advanced divers alike. Since most of Manzanillo’s dive sites are close to shore, liveaboards are not common. There are some remarkable shore dive sites, but most divers opt to dive with the daily boat tours that are operated by local dive shops.
Divers who travel from around the world to dive the Revillagigedo Archipelago usually have one objective in mind: to swim with megafauna. Diving in Socorro boasts intimate encounters with various marine mammals, including Humpback whales, hammerhead, whale, silky, oceanic whitetip, Galapagos, and tiger sharks, and dolphins. Giant Pacific manta rays are also a main attraction. These islands are remote, however, limiting dive access to these islands to only liveaboard dive boats.
Places to Explore
Socorro Islands
Expect deep blue water and strong currents as well as abundant marine life around the Socorro Islands.
Manzanillo
Manzanillo is the largest city in the state of Colima, Mexico and is a bustling port on the Pacific Ocean. Manzanillo is a tourist hub as well, what with its lush, tropical milieu and beautiful beaches. The large bay of Manzanillo contains vibrant coral reefs and a shipwreck, as well as various rock formations on its outskirts.
Top Colima Dive Sites
1. San Luciano Wreck
Explore the San Luciano shipwreck at a shallow depth of 6m in Manzanillo, teeming with vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life like parrotfish and moray eels. This site is perfect for beginner scuba divers due to its easy accessibility and fascinating underwater history.
2. Roca Elefante
Known for its unique underwater formations, Roca Elefante features two swim-through archways. Scuba divers, including beginners, can enjoy sightings of sea turtles and occasional whale sharks amidst healthy coral reefs.
3. Roca Partida
Situated in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, this advanced-level scuba diving site is a pinnacle where divers encounter large schools of tuna, mackerel, and various sharks like hammerheads. It's a protected area renowned for its biodiversity.
4. Roca O’Neal (Socorro Island):
Diving here offers advanced divers an exhilarating experience with abundant hammerhead sharks and other species. This site is ideal for scuba diving and is part of a marine park, ensuring ecological preservation.
5. The Boiler (San Benedicto Island)
A top spot for advanced scuba divers, The Boiler is famous for interactions with playful Giant Pacific manta rays. As part of a protected marine area, it offers a thrilling and eco-conscious diving adventure.
